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Arsenal loan defender Pablo Mari has told how rejection by Manchester City inspired his dream of one day making it in the Premier League.

And the centre-back - who hopes to stay with the Gunners once his loan from Flamengo has expired - says he was "absolutely convinced" since age 13 that he would join "a big club".

Mari, 26, joined City from Gimnastic in 2016, and was loaned out to Girona, NAC Breda and Deportivo La Coruna before signing for Flamengo last year.

The Spanish defender says he never even met Pep Guardiola or his first-team stars - but he is hoping City's loss can be Arsenal's gain after joining the Gunners on loan in January.

“You go [to City’s training campus] for medicals each year – blood tests, urine, scans – but when I went to the Netherlands and Coruna, the [City] first team hadn’t started pre-season, so there was no one there,” he told the Guardian.

Pablo Mari was frustrated at Manchester City but hopes to prove himself at Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)

“You never cross paths. That can feel a bit strange, but City were transparent. The plan was always to go on loan.

“They help you find teams but never oblige you and the last word always has to be yours. After two years, I said I wanted to return to Spain, go step by step awaiting a chance in the Primera.

“Look, a player has to have one thing very clear: how much you’re prepared to lose to be a professional.

“You have to ask yourself that question and be honest. It will never, ever be all lovely. Or all awful.

“My objective was clear: whether it was City or not, I was going to get to a big club. I was absolutely convinced, ever since I left home at 13."

Mari made his debut for Arsenal in their FA Cup win over Portsmouth on March 2, before a first Premier League start in the victory over West Ham five days later.

That was the Gunners' last game before the football season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

He has face plenty of obstacles in his career so far, having been shunted between four countries and two continents.

Mari made his Premier League debut against West Ham, before the season was suspended due to coronavirus (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But he is determined to achieve his dream of succeeding at a top club, saying: “I never thought of giving up.